”in-line branch” bug pod – don’t know how to describe
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
November 20, 2011 3:09 pm
Any idea what sort of insect grows inside these ”pods” on these shrub branches? When I cut them open there is a 1/4 inch ”grub” in the center.
They make great toy spinning tops.
Thank you for your time and your help!
Signature: cfunck
Goldenrod Galls
Dear cfunck,
This is a sight our editorial staff is quite familiar with having grown up in eastern Ohio. Interestingly, this is the first submission we have received of Goldenrod Galls despite having this online column for more than 12 years. These Galls are formed by the Goldenrod Gall Fly, Eurosta solidaginis. You may read more about this insect on BugGuidewhere it is stated: “Larvae form round galls on the stem of certain goldenrods, Solidago. They feed there, then pupate in early spring. Adults emerge April-May and mate near goldenrod.” Galls are growths on plants that are often caused by insects including flies, wasps and moths, and sometimes by mites. Galls are abnormal growths that generally do not harm the plant, and though they are usually produced by insects and other arthropods, they can also be cause by other sources.
Goldenrod Gall
Daniel,
Thank you so much for this information!
Kind regards,
Chris Funck
1
oak apple gall
Location: Tampa, Florida
May 1, 2011 10:51 am
Hey, just thought you might think this was a cool pic I took…
Signature: Melody
Interior of Oak Apple Gall
Hi Melody,
Thanks so much for contributing your photo of the interior of an Oak Apple Gall, revealing the larval wasp in the genus Amphibolips inside. Gall Wasps in the family Cynipidae are a fascinatingly diverse group that was studied in depth by Alfred Kinsey. The Gall itself is a growth on a plant that may be produced by a variety of sources. Gall Wasps produce growths on leaves, stems and roots though each species forms a distinctive Gall. The larva then feeds on the tissue produced in the Gall. It is currently accepted that the Galls do not harm the plant. You can see other photos of Oak Apple Galls on BugGuide.
¶ Posted 01 May 2011 § ‡ ° Insect egg?
Location: Arkansas
March 19, 2011 9:01 pm
Bugman–we were hiking in west/central Arkansas in the Ouachita mountains and found this round orange ball with red spots on a leaf on the ground. It was about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. It was mid-March in a mixed deciduous/pine forest. What is it?
Signature: Joyce
Oak Leaf Gall
Dear Joyce,
This is theoretically not an insect egg, but it was produced because of the laying of an insect egg. This is a Gall. Galls are growths produced on plants, usually because of an insect or mite, though fungus and other causes may produce gall-like structures. This is probably the result of a Gall Wasp in the family Cynipidae. The Gall Wasp lays an egg, and when the egg hatches, the larva releases an enzyme that causes the Gall to grow. The Gall Wasp Larva then feeds on the tissue in the Gall. Galls do not harm the plants. Here is a similar photo on BugGuide, and one on Wikimedia.
¶ Posted 19 March 2011 § ‡ ° What is this?
Location: Gwynn Oak, MD
March 17, 2011 9:01 am
HI,
I have 3 or 4 of these things in my juniper bush. I am not sure what it is and want to know if they are safe to have on the bush and at my front door.
thanks,
Signature: M. Kelly
Cedar Apple Rust Gall on Juniper
Dear M. Kelly,
Abnormal Growths on plants are known as galls, and many are caused by insects and mites, though there are other additional causes for plants to produce galls. We did a search for Galls on Juniper and we immediately discovered the Cedar Cedar Rust Gall on the University of Michigan Integrated Pest Management for Home Apple Growers web page. You need to scroll down the page to get the information, which includes: “Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae Cedar-apple rust is a fungal disease that spends half of its life cycle infecting apple or crab apple trees, and the other half infecting Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) or other species of juniper (Juniperus sp.). This disease can cause damage to leaves and fruit of very susceptible apple varieties, but is only a minor problem on resistant or partially resistant trees.” There is also a nice photo of the gall on FlickR.
Thank you very much for the information!!!!
I will cut them off and dispose of them and follow up and read the web pages you included in your response. Not that I like it, I can deal with a fungus better than bag worms or other insects.
I appreciate your quick response. 
M Kelly
Galls on Ocotillo?
Location: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
February 28, 2011 9:39 pm
My field crew and I came across this ocotillo that has what appear to be galls on it. Are these deformities produced by an insect, and if so, which one? Thanks!
Signature: Ed Kuklinski
Galls on Ocotillo?
Dear Ed,
According to the Morton Arboretum website: “Galls are abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants. Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites. Some galls are the result of infections by bacteria, fungi, or nematodes and are difficult to tell apart from insect-caused galls. Seeing the insect or its eggs may help you tell an insect gall from a gall caused by other organisms.“ What you have photographed does fall into the “abnormal growth” category, but we cannot say for certain that they were caused by insects. The desert is a harsh climate, and there might be many things other than insects that might have caused this unusual phenomenon. Perhaps one of our readers will provide some insight.
Galls on Ocotillo?
¶ Posted 01 March 2011 § ‡ ° White Oak gall
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
December 16, 2010 10:57 am
I’ve been seeing this gal on white oaks the past couple years in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park TN. I looked at the picture on your site and didn’t see any that seemed to match. Wold love to have an idea of what kind this is and assume it is a wasp gall?
Signature: Ken Voorhis
Galls on White Oak
Hi Ken,
Thanks for sending your photos. Galls are growths that can be attributed to many different kinds of insects including wasps and flies as well as to certain mites and other causes that are not related to arthropods. In the case of Gall Wasps in the family Cynipidae, the Gall is a growth on the plant, often the leaf, that provides food for the larval wasp and does not harm the tree. Oak trees are probably the most common host to Galls. There is much diversity in Gall Wasps and we do not have the necessary expertise to classify your particular galls, but you can view some of the genera posted to BugGuide. There is also a section of unidentified Galls available on BugGuide. Alfred Kinsey, who gained notoriety in the 1950s with his studies on human sexuality, was an entomologist who specialized in Gall Wasps prior to turning his attention to the private lives of humans.
Galls on White Oak
Thanks Daniel, If I find anything more I’ll forward it to you.
Ken
Ken Voorhis Executive Director
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE AT TREMONT
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
¶ Posted 17 December 2010 § ‡ ° White Oak Gall (you don’t have a picture of.)
Location: Murrysville, East of Pittsburgh, PA
October 28, 2010 4:18 pm
Hello Bugman,
I took pictures of some galls on my white oak tree today (10-27-10) I couldn’t find any pictures of these either on BugGuide or on this site. They are ONLY on my white oak tree – not on any other oak tree in my yard. (Pin oaks, shingle oaks) And there are hundreds of these galls. I find it interesting that they have turned pink as the leaves have turned red, since they are made of leaf tissue. They flick off the leaf easily and are wet when squished. This tree is about 15 years old and I do not recall ever seeing these galls on it, although I have seen other types. Thought you might like these pictures for your files.
Signature: MPK
Galls on White Oak
Dear MPK,
There does seem to be an infinite variety of Galls that can be found on oak trees, and we wish Alfred Kinsey were still alive and working to classify the Gall Wasps that produce these harmless growths.
Galls on White Oak
¶ Posted 29 October 2010 § ‡ ° Bug eggs on Oak leaves
Location: Southeastern Iowa
August 16, 2010 2:35 pm
The attached photos show a multitude of bug eggs on the leaves of the oak tree in my backyard.
I cannot identify what bug these eggs are associated with. I would like to know if there is any danger to the tree’s health or to my home from these bugs.
Jay D
Oak Gall
Hi Jay D,
This is not an egg. It is a Gall. A Gall is a growth on a plant caused by an wasp, midge, mite, or occasionally another type of insect. According to BugGuide: “There are more than 2,000 gall-producing insects in the United States; 1,500 are either gall gnats or gall wasps.“ The insect produces an enzyme that causes the plant tissue to grow in a deformed manner, and this growth serves as food for the developing gall larvae. It is generally believed that the Gall does not harm the plant. We believe your Gall is a Gall Wasp in the family Cynipidae, but we could not find a conclusive match on BugGuide. There is one image of an unidentified Gall Wasp Gall on BugGuide that looks similar to your Gall. BugGuide gives this advice for Gall identification: “Gall insects (and mites) are usually highly specific about what kind of plants they use, and even what part of the plant. To maximize your chances of getting a gall identified, record the plant species (include photos of the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. if you’re not sure), and if it’s a leaf gall, note the position on the leaf (if it’s not obvious from the photo): upper side or underside; midrib, side vein, or somewhere else. Also note whether or not the gall is detachable, the size of the gall, and anything else distinctive about it that may not be clear in the photo. With oaks in particular, which are hosts for hundreds of kinds of galls, every little detail can help to narrow down the options.“ An interesting side note is that Alfred Kinsey who shot to notoriety in the mid twentieth century with his ground breaking studies on human sexuality began his professional career as an entomologist who specialized in the study of Gall Wasps. He approached his studies on human sexuality with the same rigor that he used in collection over 1 million specimens of Gall Wasps.
Oak Galls
¶ Posted 16 August 2010 § ‡ ° 
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